December felt like such a long month that I genuinely thought I’d missed the last couple of monthly to do list posts – so much has happened since I wrote the December one that I barely remember it. December was such a hectic month for me, I spent the first ten days of the month travelling the States, I came back, caught up on work, had a small medical procedure, got lost in Christmas preparations and festivities, and then we also had the loss of Connor’s dad to deal with + everything that comes with that, so I didn’t get the chance to tick off as many of the to dos as I’d have liked. This month is shaping up to be similarly hectic, so for my January To Do List I’m sticking with a theme of small, simple slow living tasks that I think all of us would benefit from adding to our neverending to do lists.
Take a walk on a frosty morning. We have a habit of resenting frost. Resenting the bitter cold that sinks into your bones, resenting the twenty minutes it takes to defrost the car before you head to work, resenting the slow moving traffic because of the icy roads. But when you stop and take a look, the frost is simply beautiful. Just take a look at Rhianna’s snaps if you need any encouragement! Next time there’s a clear, frosty morning, wrap up warm, grab your camera and head somewhere beautiful to appreciate nature.
Find planner peace. January is such a great excuse to get organised, and there’s just something wonderful about a paper planner. For me, I’ve found the perfect combination of my bullet journal for day to day, and my Erin Condren planner as something of a memory keeping device, but I’m still perfecting how I use lists + journaling. Get on Pinterest, get down to Paperchase, and get planning!
Treat yourself to a little pamper. January can be such a bleak month, it’s bitterly cold and often feels like we don’t have much to look forward to. I’m a big fan of self-care to rectify that, so book yourself in for a new hair do, a manicure, get your brows done, or just schedule in an evening for you, a glass of wine, and a Lush bath bomb. Sometimes the first step to feeling better is pampering yourself!
Organise your digital files. Does anyone else have a desktop cluttered with photos, video files, shopping lists, random work documents? Wouldn’t it be nice to have all your photos organised in a way that means you can find everything? I’m setting aside an afternoon this month to delete clutter and organise what’s important so that finding a photo isn’t a half hour job anymore.
Make fresh homemade soup. January is the month of soup weather. I made soup for the first time in 2016 without using a tin and it was revolutionary. It’s so easy, so tasty, and there really are no rules, you can chuck pretty much anything into a pot, serve with crunchy bread rolls and it’s guaranteed to be tasty. It’s the perfect warming lunch for at your desk, or light, wholesome dinner when you can’t be bothered to cook a proper meal. You can make it up in bulk and freeze it for whenever it takes your fancy! Try this recipe to get you started, it’s so easy even I can do it!
Write a letter to a long distance friend. Why does nobody send letters anymore?! There’s something so wonderfully exciting about receiving a hand written letter in the mail, and there’s something so cathartic about writing one too! I’m lucky enough (or unlucky depending on how you look at it) to have friends scattered round the globe, from Quebec to Taipei, and I plan on getting as many letters out as possible this month! (and hey, if you don’t have anyone to write a letter to, PICK ME!)
Buy a new houseplant. I’ve read so many interesting articles recently on the benefits of houseplants, and surrounding yourself with greenery, so I’m totally on the houseplant bandwagon. Connor very sweetly bought me a beautiful terrarium for Christmas, which I’m super excited to fill with pretty succulents! There’s something very uplifting about houseplants, so I encourage you all to take a Sunday trip to your local garden centre.
Read a book that’s been on your list forever. Is anyone else guilty of buying beautiful books and then putting them on the shelf to be read ‘when you have time’? Well, this is the month to make time! Pull out a book that’s been on your to read list for a while, and get started.
Create a morning routine. That makes you happy. Invest in a lumie lamp, wake up ten minutes earlier to have a cup of tea before you leave, find a quick yoga routine that works for you to stretch and wake your body up in the morning. January is a great time to embrace new healthy habits, make this a priority!
What’s on your January to do list?